Premier Alex Scott told a handful of Bermuda university students in Philadelphia that their studies can be put to good use when they come home to careers within the Island?s international business sector.

Mr. Scott has been in Philadelphia since the week-end leading a Government delegation taking part in events this week during the prestigious Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) annual conference. Mr. Scott is a graduate of Philadelphia?s own Temple University. RIMS ? a must-attend event for North American risk managers and the insurers that do business with them ? is being held in Philadelphia this year. As it does every year, RIMS 2005 has attracted a sizeable Bermuda contingent from both the public and private sectors.

The Premier, various Government ministers, civil servants and Bermuda regulators take part in an annual walkabout of the RIMS conference hall every year. But this year, the trip to RIMS has taken on a new twist with Mr. Scott also getting the chance to take up the invitation of Temple associate professor and chairman, Dr. R.B. Brennan to visit the Temple?s Fox School of Business.

A number of Bermudian students are majoring in Actuarial Science and Risk Management at the Fox School of Business, including Erika Suber, Hannah Butler, Jonathan Allen, Jonathan Ball, Kris Sannemalm and Hataya DeSilva.

Mr. Scott told the students: ?We are here in Philadelphia to build relationships with our industry partners; however our primary participation is to ensure that while we maintain the relationships, the door for inclusion of Bermudians is thrown wide open and there is a place for you to return and establish your respective careers and make your contributions.

?At home, the Government has devised a ?Social Agenda? that aims to address the needs of all of our citizens, and cultivate both the mental and physical capabilities of our people so that we can maintain the high standard of living of our community.

?International business plays a role in this effort, but it is you who must, more and more, become the driving force behind it.?

On Saturday evening, prior to the beginning of the RIMS Conference, Premier and Mrs. Scott were guests at the Bank of Bermuda-HSBC?s pre RIMS event.

As a surprise, Mr. Scott was introduced to Professor Brennan along with a number of Bermudian students enrolled in the Department of Risk, Insurance and Healthcare Management.